PRODUCT ALERT! mTrigger biofeedback now offers small electrodes for a host of applications, because let’s be honest, electrode size matters. Our small electrodes are designed to target smaller muscle groups, pinpoint fine motor movements, improve accuracy, and make your job easier. With this new product, mTrigger biofeedback is more versatile and effective than ever.
Let’s look at a few specific ways in which smaller electrodes can be utilized.
Hand Rehab/Occupational Therapy
One of the most common and beneficial uses for smaller electrodes is when targeting the hand. This is often seen following hand surgeries, stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury where the muscles that need rehabbing are smaller, highly dysfunctional, and difficult to target. Whether you are a physical therapist, certified hand therapist, or occupational therapist, mTrigger biofeedback’s smaller electrodes will really make a difference in your practice and your patient’s progress.
These videos demonstrate just a few ways to utilize mTrigger biofeedback’s smaller electrodes for the hand and upper extremity.
Pelvic Floor
Another very popular use for smaller electrodes is with pelvic physical therapy. The smaller electrodes allow for pelvic physical therapists’ to really focus in on those smaller target muscle to help patients with activation or relaxation training of the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles. Smaller electrodes are also more comfortable and allow for a more sensitive and accurate sEMG reading.
In addition to smaller electrodes, keep an eye out for mTrigger’s biofeedback vaginal and anal probes to be released very soon! These will quickly become an essential tool for pelvic health therapists.
Smaller muscles of the Hands, Feet, and Face
An obvious use for smaller electrodes is with smaller muscle groups. This often includes the hands, feet, or face but may also be indicated when targeting smaller, very specific, muscles in the lower leg or forearm. Surface EMG electrodes are designed to pick up the muscle activity directly under the electrode so using larger electrodes for smaller muscles can lead to increased feedback and poor results. These examples show where smaller electrodes are a better option when training with mTrigger biofeedback.
Here the peroneals are being targeted and smaller electrodes are more effective and precise at picking up the desired muscle activation.
When targeting smaller forearm muscles for finger movements, pinching, etc, small electrodes are a much better bet!
Postural Muscles
Another application for smaller electrodes is when working on posture. Here, smaller electrodes can be advantageous, especially when looking at the cervical region. As the cervical erectors are small muscles, the smaller electrodes tend to work better due to the contours of the neck and movement demands.
Here is an example.
This video demonstrates how the standard electrodes are a bit too large for this application and the smaller electrodes would have achieved a much better contact and reading.
Smaller/Pediatric Patients
Smaller electrodes are also wonderful for smaller or pediatric patients where the muscles are smaller in general, and you have less surface area to work with. Some exercises performed with standard size electrodes in adults, may work better with smaller electrodes simply based on the patient’s size.
Notice in this video how the electrodes start to overlap during the movement, this is a perfect example of where smaller electrodes would have been a MUCH better option for this target muscle during this exercise!
Summary
We are excited to now offer small electrodes designed with precision, versatility, and comfort in mind. These small electrodes are ideal for those smaller muscles, hand rehabilitation, pelvic physical therapy, and so much more. mTrigger biofeedback is now more adaptable than ever and ready to help you guide your patients through their rehabilitation.
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